This chapter describes the major hardware components in the Total Performance Storage System Manager (TPSSM) architecture and the physical and logical components of a storage array. This chapter also introduces the storage management software and describes how storage arrays are managed using this software.
The storage management software may be installed on personal computers or workstations, called storage management stations, anywhere on the corporate network. You send storage management commands from these storage management stations over an Ethernet network to the controllers in the storage array. The commands are either sent directly to the controllers through Ethernet connections on the back of the controllers (directly managed method) or through an Ethernet connection on the host (host-agent managed method). See “Types of Network Management Connections ” for more details.
The controller firmware executes the storage management commands, and you use the storage management software (which is called the client software) to manage the storage arrays.
 | Note: You can install the client software on either the host or a GUI workstation. The storage commands will be sent over the host I/O data connection (when connected in-band) or through TCP/IP over the network (when connected directly). |
Table 1-1 lists the major hardware components that are involved in the TPSSM storage management architecture. For a detailed description of the network setup requirements, see the appropriate hardware site preparation and installation guides for each component.
Table 1-1. Major Hardware Components
Hardware Component | Description |
|---|---|
Managed by the storage management software and consists of both physical components (such as drives, controllers, fans, and power supplies) and logical components (such as volume groups and volumes). See “Physical Components of a Storage Array ” and “Logical Components of a Storage Array ” for more information. | |
Computer you use to manage storage arrays on the network. | |
Console with installed SNMP-compliant network management software that receives and processes information about managed network devices using SNMP (Simple Network Messaging Protocol). | |
Used to assign static network-specific information such as an IP address and host name for each controller. This server is not required if you are going to manage all of the storage arrays through the I/O connection using a host-agent. For more information, see “Types of Network Management Connections ”
| |
Computer, running one or more applications, that accesses the storage array over a fibre channel I/O data connection. |
The physical components that are typically found in a storage array are shown in Figure 1-1 and described in Table 1-2. In some newer hardware, the configuration or location might be slightly modified, but the type and use of the components remains the same.
Table 1-2 describes the physical components shown in Figure 1-1.
Table 1-2. Physical Components of a Storage Array
Component | Description |
|---|---|
Board and firmware that controls the drives and implements the storage management functions. | |
One or more controllers, power supply canisters, fan canisters, and other supporting components in a single enclosure. | |
Electro-magnetic mechanical device providing the physical data storage media. | |
Set of drives, power supply canisters, fan canisters, environmental card canisters, and other supporting components in a single enclosure. |
The drives in the storage array provide the physical storage capacity for application data. Use the storage management software to configure the physical capacity into logical components (volume groups and volumes) as described in Table 1-3.
Table 1-3. Logical Components of a Storage Array
Component | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Set of drives that are logically grouped together by the controllers in a storage array. Each volume group is assigned an appropriate RAID level to meet application needs for data availability and I/O performance. The RAID level is a volume group parameter, not a volume parameter. | |
Volume
| Logical object that is the basic structure you create on the storage array to store data. One or more volumes are configured across a volume group, and each volume is seen by the operating system as one drive. | |
Free capacity
| Contiguous region of unused capacity on a designated volume group. The space can be used to create one or more volumes. Note: In the Logical view of the Array Management window, free capacity is displayed as Free Capacity nodes (see Figure 1-8 ). Multiple Free Capacity nodes can exist on a volume group. | |
| Capacity that is present in the storage array from drives that have not been assigned to a volume group. The space can be used to create new volume groups and volumes. Note: In the Logical view of the Array Management window, unconfigured capacity is shown as an Unconfigured Capacity node. |
Storage partitioning allows you to configure a single storage array as multiple virtual storage arrays up to the maximum value enabled. A storage partition is a logical grouping of one or more storage array volumes. Access to a storage partition can be restricted to particular hosts or groups of hosts by defining a set of volume-to-LUN mappings. A volume-to-LUN mapping allows you to define what host or host group will have access to a particular volume in the storage array.
For more information on creating storage partitions, see “Storage Partitioning” in Chapter 2.
Storage array management activities include:
Setting up a management domain, which is a collection of storage arrays to manage.
Configuring destinations to receive alert messages for critical problems concerning one or more storage arrays in a management domain.
Configuring available storage array capacity into logical volumes to maximize data availability and optimize application performance.
Granting various hosts in your storage enterprise access to storage partitions (defined in “Storage Partitioning” in Chapter 2).
Monitoring storage arrays in the management domain for problems or conditions that require attention.
Recovering from storage array problems to maximize data availability.
Tuning for optimal application performance.
To perform these management activities, you use the client software on the storage management station or host to instruct the controllers in the storage array. These commands are sent over the network. The following section describes network management connectivity.
A storage array receives data from the application host over fibre channel I/O data connections (also called I/O data paths), shown in Figure 1-2.
Storage management commands are sent from storage management stations over an Ethernet network to the storage array. The connection between the storage management station and the storage array controller, shown in Figure 1-3, is called the network management connection. Two kinds of network management connections are described in “Types of Network Management Connections ”.
The software allows two different types of network management connections to a storage array: direct or host-agent.
For increased connectivity, you can manage a storage array using a variety of network management connections (direct only, host-agent only, or multiple host-agents). A direct and host-agent combination is also allowed, but is not recommended because the result would be three Ethernet connections (one to each controller and one through the host). When you configure multiple network management connections to a storage array, the storage management software is aware of each connection. When you open an Array Management window and you have multiple connections configured, the software automatically chooses a connection. If a particular connection does not respond, the software tries all other configured network management connections to that storage array.
The directly managed method allows you to send storage management commands to the controllers in the storage array directly over the network through each controller's Ethernet connection. To manage the storage array through these Ethernet connections, attach cables from the Ethernet connections on the storage array to the network, define each controller's IP address (or optionally, each controller's host name), and then use the Enterprise Management window to add the storage array to the management domain. This form of RAID management is also referred to as “out-of-band” management.
For more information about directly managed storage arrays, see the SGI InfiniteStorage TPSSM Administration Guide.
The host-agent managed method allows you to send storage management commands through the network connection to a host rather than through the Ethernet connections to each controller. A TPSSM storage management software component installed on the host, called a host-agent, receives the requests from the storage management station and sends them to the controllers in the storage array through the fibre channel I/O connection. The communication between the storage management station and the controllers is done through a special volume configured by controllers called an access volume. This volume uses one of the available logical unit numbers (LUNs), typically ID 31. See Table 1-4 for a description of the host-agent software. This form of RAID management is also referred to as “in-band” management
After you install the host-agent software on the host, add the host to the management domain in order to also add any storage arrays attached to that host. For more information about populating a management domain, see “Related Publications”.
For more information about host-agent managed storage arrays, see the SGI InfiniteStorage TPSSM Administration Guide.
The TPSSM storage management software consists of three major components, described in Table 1-4.
Table 1-4. Major Software Components
Component | Description |
|---|---|
TPSSM Client | You can install the client software in one of two locations: (1) on a storage management station, or (2) on a host. See the SGI InfiniteStorage TPSSM Administration Guide for details. For more information, see “Client Software Windows”
|
TPSSM Agent | The host-agent software can be installed on one or more hosts connected to the storage arrays. The host-agent, along with the network connection on the host, provides a network management connection to the storage array. Instead of using the individual Ethernet connections on each controller, the storage management station can communicate with a storage array through the host that has host-agent management software installed. The host-agent receives requests from the storage management station through the network connection to the host and sends them to the controllers in the storage array through the Fibre Channel I/O connection. The communication between the storage management station and the controllers requires a special volume configured by the controllers called an access volume. This volume uses one of the logical unit numbers (LUNs) available on the host. It is recommended that you install the host-agent software on all host computers, even if you intend to manage the storage array directly over the network. You can stop the host-agent software from running by using an operating system-specific method. See the SGI InfiniteStorage TPSSM Administration Guide for details. |
TPSSM Util | The util package software contains the tpssmdevices utility that correlates the volumes you create using the storage management software with their operating system device names. See the SGI InfiniteStorage TPSSM Administration Guide for details. |
The client software has two main windows: the Enterprise Management window, shown in Figure 1-4, and the Array Management window, shown in Figure 1-5.
The Enterprise Management window, shown in Figure 1-6, is the first window to appear when you start the software. You use the Enterprise Management window to:
Add and discover the storage arrays you want to manage (see “Related Publications”).
Provide a comprehensive view of all storage arrays in the management domain.
Perform batch storage array management tasks using the Script Editor.
Configure destinations (e-mail and/or SNMP traps) to receive alert notifications for non-optimal storage arrays.
After adding storage arrays, you use the Enterprise Management window primarily to monitor the storage arrays in the management domain for the Needs Attention status and for alert notification of critical errors affecting the storage arrays. When you are notified of a non-optimal storage array status in the Enterprise Management window, you can start an Array Management window specific to the affected storage array to learn more detailed information about the storage array condition. You can also use the Array Management window to perform recovery or other management tasks. For more information, see “Monitoring the Health of Storage Arrays” in Chapter 2.
The Device Tree provides a tree-structured view of nodes in the management domain. The storage management station node is the root node and represents the storage management station sending the storage management commands. The Device Tree displays the configured management domain. You add hosts running host-agent software and storage arrays to the management domain, and they are shown in the Device Tree as child nodes of the storage management station node.
The Enterprise Management window Device Tree displays the management domain. Figure 1-7 shows an example Device Tree.
You can use either of two ways to populate a management domain:
Use the Automatic Discovery option to detect directly managed and host-agent managed storage arrays on the local subnetwork and add them to the management domain. The Enterprise Management window detects host-agent managed storage arrays by first locating the hosts that provide network management connections to the storage arrays. Then the host appears in the Device Tree along with its associated storage arrays.
Use the Add Device option to manually add directly managed and host-agent managed storage arrays to the management domain. For a directly managed storage array, enter a host name or IP address for each controller in the storage array. For a host-agent managed storage array, enter a name or IP address for the host that is attached to the storage array.
Note: When you discover or add storage arrays to a management domain, they are initially shown as <unnamed> in the Device Tree and Device Table. Select each unnamed storage array, open the Array Management window, and use the Storage Array \> Rename option to name the storage array.
A check appears next to each node in the Device Tree View where alert nofication has been set/enabled.
For more information on populating a management domain, see the Enterprise Management window Help.
The Device Table lists the name, status, management type (direct or host-agent), and comments you have entered for storage arrays. (See Figure 1-6.)
For more information about using the Device Table, see the Enterprise Management window Help.
The Enterprise Management window menus on the menu bar are described in Table 1-5.
Table 1-5. Enterprise Management Window Menus
For more information about using the Enterprise Management window menu options, see the Enterprise Management window Help.
The Enterprise Management window toolbar buttons are described in Table 1-6
Table 1-6. Enterprise Management Window Toolbar Buttons
Toolbar Button | Description | |
|---|---|---|
Automatically detect new devices
| Activates the Automatic Discovery option that detects hosts and storage arrays on the local subnetwork and adds them to the management domain. | |
Rescan selected host for new devices
| Activates the Rescan option that discovers storage arrays newly attached to the selected host. After physically adding new storage arrays, restart the host-agent software so that it can recognize the new devices before selecting this button. Note: This option is available only when you select a host in the Device Tree. | |
Display Task Assistant Launch Pad
| Select this toolbar button to display the Task Assistant Launch Pad (TALP). The TALP provides a central dialog from which you can access common administrative tasks, such as adding a storage array or naming a storage array. | |
Synchronize Event Monitor
| Synchronizes the event monitor with any changes made in the Enterprise Management window, such as adding or removing devices or adding alerts. Note: This option is available only if the configurations of the Enterprise Management window and the event monitor are not synchronized. | |
Add host/device
| Opens the Add Device dialog for manually adding hosts or storage array controllers to the management domain. | |
Remove host/device
| Removes the selected storage array or the selected host and its attached storage arrays from the management domain. Note: This option is available only when you select a storage array in the Device Tree or Device Table, or a host in the Device Tree. | |
Launch an Array Management window
| Opens an Array Management window for the selected storage array. Note: This option is available only when you select a storage array in the Device Tree or Device Table. |
See Figure 1-6 for an example of the Enterprise Management window toolbar. For more information on using the toolbar options, see the Enterprise Management window Help.
The Array Manag ement window is used to configure and maintain the logical and physical components of a storage array and to view and define volume-to-LUN mappings. See Figure 1-8.
The Array Management window is specific to an individual storage array; therefore, you can only manage a single storage array within an Array Management window. However, you can start other Array Management windows from the Enterprise Management window to manage multiple storage arrays simultaneously.
The storage management software supports firmware version 5.40 and all firmware versions 4.01 through 5.3x. For maximum system stability, the recommended minimum is firmware version 5.30.xx.xx. However, to access all the features of version 8.40 of the storage management software, you must upgrade to firmware version 5.40.
| Note: Depending on your version of storage array software management, the views, menu options, and functionality may differ from the information presented in this document. |
The features of a particular release of firmware will be accessible when an Array Management window is launched from the Enterprise Management window to manage a storage array. For example, you manage two storage arrays using this software; one storage array has firmware version 5.40 and the other has firmware version 4.01. When you launch an Array Management window for a particular storage array, the correct Array Management window version is used. The storage array with firmware version 5.40 will use version 4.01 of the storage management software while the storage array with firmware version 4.01 will use version 7.1x. You can verify the version you are currently using by selecting Help > About in the Array Management window.
This bundling of previous versions of the Array Management window provides the flexibility of upgrading the firmware only on selected storage arrays instead of having to perform an upgrade on all storage arrays at once.
The Array Management window has two tabs: Logical/Physical View and Mappings View, which are described in Table 1-7. See Figure 1-8. The tabs display information about the logical components (volume and volume groups), physical components (controllers and drives), topological elements (host groups, hosts, host ports), and volume-to-LUN mappings in a storage array.
Table 1-7. Array Management Window Tabs
Tab | Description |
|---|---|
Logical/Physical View | The Array Management window Logical/Physical View contains two panes: the Logical view and the Physical view. The Logical view in the left pane of Figure 1-8 shows the organization of storage array capacity into volume groups and volumes. The Physical view in the right pane of Figure 1-8 shows the physical devices in the storage array, such as command enclosure and drive enclosure components. Selection of a volume or other entity in the Logical view shows you the associated physical components in the Physical view. A Components button in every enclosure presents the status of all enclosure components and shows the temperature status of the enclosure. |
Mappings View | The Mappings View of the Array Management window contains two panes: the Topology view and the Defined Mappings view. For details, see “Mappings View” in Chapter 2 . The Topology view provides a tree-structured view of logical nodes related to storage partitions. The Defined Mappings detail view displays the mappings associated with the selected node in the Topology view. |
For more specific information about the Logical/Physical View, Components button, or Mappings View, see the Array Management window Help.
The Array Management window menus on the menu bar are described in Table 1-8. The menus are used to perform storage management operations for a selected storage array or for selected components within a storage array. See Figure 1-8 for an example of the Array Management window menus.
Table 1-8. Array Management Window Menus
Menu | Description |
|---|---|
Storage Array | Allows you to perform the following storage array management operations: locating functions (locating the storage array or a specific drive channel by flashing indicator lights), configuring the storage array, enabling premium features, starting Recovery Guru, monitoring performance, downloading firmware and NVSRAM files, changing various settings, setting controller clocks, redistributing volumes, running Read Link Status diagnostics, activating or deactivating the remote volume mirroring premium feature, and renaming storage arrays. |
View | Allows you to open the Task Assistant Launch Pad (TALP), change the display from the Logical/Physical View to the Mappings View, view Associated Components for a selected node, find a particlar node in the Logical or Topology view, locate an associated node in the tree, or access the Event Log or the Storage Array Profile. |
Mappings | Allows you to make changes to or retrieve details about mappings associated with a selected node. The options are the following: Define, Change, Move, Replace Host Port, Show All Host Port Information, Delete, and Rename. |
Volume Group | Allows you to perform the following volume group storage management operations: creating or locating volumes, changing the RAID level, changing controller ownership, adding free capacity (drives), defragmenting free capacity, placing controllers online or offline, initializing a volume group, reviving a volume group, checking redundancy, or deleting a volume group. |
Volume | Allows you to perform the following volume storage management operations: creating volumes; changing ownership or segment size; increasing capacity; initializing, deleting, or renaming a volume; creating or disabling a snapcopy volume; creating a remote volume mirror; or viewing volume properties. |
Controller | Allows you to perform the following controller storage management operations: placing a controller online or offline, enabling or disabling date transfer (I/O), changing the controller mode to active, changing the preferred loop ID, running diagnostics, or viewing controller properties. |
Drive | Allows you to perform the following drive storage management operations: locating a drive; assigning or unassigning a hot spare; failing, reconstructing, reviving or initializing a drive; or viewing drive properties. |
Advanced | Presents maintenance options, which should only be used under the guidance of technical support: Downloading Drive Firmware and Mode Pages, and ESM firmware |
Help | Displays the Help system, a reference of all Recovery Guru procedures, and software version and copyright information for the Array Management software. |
For more information about using the Array Management window menu options, see the Array Management window Help.
The Array Management window toolbar buttons are used to create new volumes or volume groups, monitor performance, view events, recover from failures, and locate a particular node. Each toolbar button is described in Table 1-9. See Figure 1-8 for an example of the Array Management window toolbar.
Table 1-9. Array Management Window Toolbar Buttons
Toolbar button | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Create new volumes (and volume groups, if applicable)
| Allows you to create volume groups and volumes. Note: You must select either a Free Capacity node or an Unconfigured Capacity node in the Logical view before this option is available. If you select a Free Capacity node, the option is called Create New Volumes. If you select an Unconfigured Capacity node, the option is called Create New Volume Groups/Volumes. | ||
View diagnostic event log
| Opens the Event Log Viewer. Note: This log is for customer support use. | ||
Monitor performance
| Opens the Performance Monitor. | ||
Display Task Assistant Launch Pad
| Select this toolbar button to display the Task Assistant Launch Pad (TALP). The TALP provides a central dialog from which you can access common administrative tasks, such as configuring a storage array or defining a host. | ||
Recover from failures
| Opens the Recovery Guru. Note: If the storage array is in the Needs Attention state,
| ||
Find node in tree
| Starts the Find dialog that allows you to search for a particular node in the Logical/Physical View or Mappings View of the Array Management window. |
For more information on using the toolbar options, see the Array Management window Help.